Page 61 of Feasting on Her Curves (Forbidden Fantasies)

CORY

Saturday morning, I decided to do something outrageous. Patrick had been making an ass of himself to me and to my fellow investors. We were all in touch via text, and every time he showed up at someone’s job or apartment, we would let each other know. So far, he’d confronted Donovan at the mayor’s office and Gavin and me in the lobby of our building.

It was hard to remember that we used to be friends with the guy. He seemed singularly focused on making us regret all the good will we had stored up on his behalf. The deal with Petra was sealed. I hadn’t had an opportunity to take her out on an official date yet, but both Gavin and Donovan had the pleasure.

I knew it was just a matter of time until my chance rolled around, and I didn’t want Patrick mucking it up. The man was acting crazy. His interest in Petra’s love life went far beyond what I thought was a natural brotherly instinct. It was as if he took personal offense to our affection for his sister.

Petra was somewhat in the loop. I knew that Donovan had said something to her about Patrick showing up at his office. We didn’t want to startle her or stress her out with all the details, but it was only fair to let her know what was going on.

She wasn’t pleased either. A couple times she told me that Pat wouldn’t answer her phone calls. She was worried about him, but also angry that he made it his business to try to defend her.

“As if I need defending from you,” she complained sardonically one afternoon at the bakery.

“You are probably the most well-defended woman in all of Chicago,” I agreed.

“Exactly. I wish Patrick would just leave it alone.”

It seemed like there was no talking sense into the guy. I came up with a plan that was a long shot. I was going to talk to his mother, Bernie. She always liked me, and I knew that with her on my side, Patrick would be up against his entire family. Maybe that would make him back down and reconsider his choice of action.

I picked up some flowers on the way over to Bernie’s house. They were vividly colored chrysanthemums, a friendly bouquet instead of a romantic one. Knocking on Bernie’s door at ten in the morning, I psyched myself up for my speech. I didn’t have to wait long before she answered, dressed in a pair of throwback bellbottom jeans and an oversized shirt.

“Cory!” she said, throwing her arms open.

I gave her a quick hug before passing the flowers over. She buried her face in the blossoms and sniffed deeply, favoring me with a wide grin. I followed her into her kitchen and stood awkwardly while she searched for a vase.

“How have you been?” Bernie asked.

“Great,” I said, steeling my nerves for the task at hand. “Actually, I have a confession.”

“Oh?”

“I’m dating your daughter.”

Bernie popped back up from the cabinet below the sink, holding a simple glass vase. “Ah ha!” she cried. “I thought there was something going on between you two. Congratulations.” She stuck the flowers in the vase and held it under the tap.

I didn’t know how to proceed, so I just waited until she was done. Setting the vase on the counter, she turned to me expectantly.

“There’s more,” I said.

“Go on.”

“Petra’s actually dating two other men at the same time. All friends of Patrick’s.”

“All from your baseball team in college?” Bernie asked.

“That’s right.”

“Well, hot dog!” Bernie crowed, her face lighting up with laugh lines. “That’s my girl. Three men at once.”

I laughed along with her, pleased that she didn’t seem to take offense. Bernie was unique among mothers in that she seemed to see only the benefits of multiple relationships without getting hung up on the optics. I knew I had made the right decision by coming to her. Hopefully she could talk her son back down and help him see reason.

“You’re okay with that?” I asked, just to make sure.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Bernie replied. “It’s Petra’s choice, and I know you are all fine young men.”

“I like to think so,” I agreed. “But there’s a problem.”

“Which is?”

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